What Happened on April 12

Space Desk

1961 — Gagarin Orbits Earth in 108-Minute

Soviet cosmonaut circles the globe aboard Vostok 1 — a first for mankind, with the craft reaching 327 kilometers high.

MOSCOW, April 12 — Yuri Gagarin, a 27-year-old Soviet cosmonaut, became the first human to travel into space and orbit the Earth, completing a full circuit of the globe in 108 minutes aboard the spaceship Vostok 1.

Gagarin parachuted to the ground separately from his capsule, ejecting at an altitude of seven kilometers after the craft had descended from its orbit. The flight, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, reached a maximum altitude of 327 kilometers and a minimum of 181 kilometers.

Named as prime pilot only four days before the mission, Gagarin was backed up by Gherman Titov and Grigori Nelyubov. The achievement marks a major triumph for the Soviet space program in its race with the United States.

• Gagarin completed one orbit of Earth on 12 April 1961, traveling on Vostok 1.
• The flight took 108 minutes from launch to landing.
• Vostok 1 reached a maximum altitude of 327 kilometers and a minimum of 181 kilometers.
• Gagarin parachuted to the ground separately from his capsule after ejecting at 7 km altitude.
• Gagarin was chosen as prime pilot four days before the mission, with Gherman Titov and Grigori Nelyubov as backups.

National Briefs

1980 — One-Legged Runner Starts Cross-Canada Cancer

Terry Fox, a 21-year-old amputee, sets out from St. John's on a coast-to-coast Marathon of Hope.

ST. JOHN'S, April 12 — Terry Fox, a 21-year-old cancer patient with a prosthetic leg, began his transcontinental Marathon of Hope today, running east-to-west across Canada to raise funds for cancer research.

Fox, whose right leg was amputated because of cancer, started from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, planning to cover about 42 kilometers a day. His run was curtailed that Sept. 1, when his cancer returned, but his effort has inspired millions.

• Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope run across Canada in support of cancer research.
• Due to a return of his cancer, Terry Fox curtailed his run on September 1, 1980.

Africa Desk

2012 — Guinea-Bissau Military Seizes Power in Coup, Arrests Candidates

Military detains both second-round presidential candidates and the incumbent president.

BISSAU, April 12 — Guinea-Bissau's military seized control in a coup tonight, detaining both second-round presidential candidates, Carlos Gomes Júnior and Kumba Ialá, along with the incumbent president.

Gunfire rang out between 19:00 and 21:00 as mutinous troops battled police with rocket-propelled grenades and blocked roads into the capital.

• On 12 April 2012, elements of the armed forces staged a coup about two weeks before the second round of a presidential election.
• The military arrested both second-round candidates Carlos Gomes Júnior and Kumba Ialá, along with the incumbent president.
• State-owned media were taken off-air as military personnel and equipment moved onto the streets of Bissau.
• Gunfire was heard between 19:00 and 21:00 as mutinous troops attempted to seize control of the capital.
• Soldiers blocked roads into and out of Bissau and fought police officers loyal to the government with RPGs.

Chronicle

1204 — Crusaders Storm Constantinople, Sack the City

Fourth Crusade breaches the walls, burning much of the capital and dissolving the Byzantine Empire.

CONSTANTINOPLE, April 12 — A strong northern wind drove Venetian ships against the sea walls, and about seventy crusaders entered the city, breaching the defenses of Constantinople.

Within hours, the Fourth Crusade began a sack that consumed much of the capital in a second great fire, leaving 15,000 people homeless. The Byzantine Empire has been dissolved, and its lands are to be partitioned among the crusaders, a division known as Frankokratia.

Prominent crusaders Simon de Montfort and Enguerrand II of Boves refused to take part in the pillage. The schism between the Eastern and Western churches has been solidified.

• On 12 April 1204, a strong northern wind aided Venetian ships, and about seventy crusaders entered Constantinople.
• During the sack, a second fire burned much of Constantinople, leaving 15,000 people homeless.
• The sack of Constantinople in 1204 led to the partition of the Byzantine Empire, called Frankokratia.
• Prominent crusaders Simon de Montfort and Enguerrand II of Boves refused to participate in the sack of Constantinople.
• Historian Steven Runciman wrote: 'There was never a greater crime against humanity than the Fourth Crusade.'

City Desk

1983 — Washington Wins Chicago, First Black Mayor

Harold Washington defeats Bernard Epton by 48,250 votes, 52% to 48%.

CHICAGO, April 12 — Harold Washington shattered Chicago's political color line tonight, winning election as the city's first African-American mayor. Washington, a congressman, beat Republican Bernard Epton by 48,250 votes, 52% to 48%, in a bitter general election. His Democratic primary victory in February unseated incumbent Mayor Jane Byrne and Richard M. Daley. Many white Democratic machine leaders, including aldermen and ward committeemen, broke ranks to back Epton. More than 100,000 new voters registered before the primary, spurred by a coalition that included the Young Lords. Washington's win caps a campaign that divided the city along racial lines but drew record turnout.

• Washington defeated Republican Bernard Epton by 48,250 votes, 52% to 48%, in the April 12 general election.
• Washington became the first Black mayor of Chicago upon his victory.
• Washington's Democratic primary win in February had unseated incumbent mayor Jane Byrne and Richard M. Daley.
• Many white Democratic machine leaders backed Republican Epton after Washington's primary win.
• More than 100,000 new voters registered before the primary, led by a coalition including the Young Lords.

War Correspondence

1861 — Fort Sumter Bombarded; Civil War Begins

Confederate batteries open fire at 4:30 a.m.; Anderson surrenders after 34 hours.

CHARLESTON, April 12 — The long-threatened rupture of the Union has come. At 4:30 this morning, Confederate artillery batteries ringing Charleston Harbor opened fire on Fort Sumter, and the American Civil War began. Major Robert Anderson held the fort for 34 hours before surrendering; no lives were lost in the engagement. Confederate Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard directed the bombardment. President Lincoln has called for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion, a step expected to drive four more Southern states from the Union. The thunder of cannonade, heard for miles, has given way to an uneasy quiet over the harbor.

• The bombardment began at 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, from Confederate artillery batteries surrounding Charleston Harbor.
• Major Robert Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter after 34 hours of bombardment, with no deaths on either side from the engagement.
• A gun explosion during surrender ceremonies on April 14 killed two U.S. Army soldiers.
• Lincoln immediately called for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion, prompting four more Southern states to secede.
• Confederate Brigadier General P. G. T. Beauregard commanded the forces that bombarded Fort Sumter.

Fire Desk

2014 — Valparaíso Fire Leaves 11,000 Homeless, 15 Dead

Wildfire destroys at least 2,500 homes; government declares disaster zone.

VALPARAÍSO, Chile, April 12 — The wildfire that erupted near this port city has killed 15 people and left 11,000 homeless, officials said as crews battled flames that destroyed at least 2,500 homes. The fire began at 4:40 p.m. in the Camino La Pólvora area, near the El Molle dump, and raced through hillside neighborhoods. Ten people suffered serious injuries. The government declared Valparaíso a disaster zone, later expanded to a state of constitutional exception. ONEMI officials charged that 'the fire was started by the intervention of third parties.' Residents sifted through ashes as fire crews worked to contain the blaze, which continued to threaten nearby communities.

• The wildfire started on 12 April 2014 at 16:40 local time in the Camino La Pólvora area near the El Molle dump in Valparaíso.
• The fire destroyed at least 2,500 homes and left 11,000 people homeless.
• Fifteen people were confirmed killed and ten suffered serious injuries.
• The Chilean government declared Valparaíso a disaster zone, later expanded to a state of constitutional exception.
• ONEMI officials reported 'the fire was started by the intervention of third parties.'

Foreign Desk

1993 — NATO Begins Deny Flight Over Bosnia

NATO warplanes begin first-ever combat operation, enforcing UN ban on unauthorized flights over Bosnia.

NAPLES, April 12 — NATO warplanes took to the skies over Bosnia today in the alliance's first-ever combat operation, enforcing a UN no-fly zone. Operation Deny Flight, authorized by Security Council Resolution 816 passed March 31, aims to ground Serbian and other aircraft violating the ban. Fighters from several NATO nations will patrol Bosnian airspace, with orders to intercept and, if necessary, engage violators. The mission marks a new chapter for the alliance, which has never before flown operational missions. Deny Flight was triggered by repeated violations, including attacks on UN aid flights.

• On 12 April 1993, NATO commenced Operation Deny Flight to enforce a no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• The no-fly zone was authorized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 816, passed on March 31, 1993.
• On 28 February 1994, NATO jets shot down four Serb aircraft over central Bosnia for violating the UN no-fly zone.

Provincial Affairs

1776 — North Carolina Congress Votes for Independence

Halifax Resolves mark first official colonial call for separation from Britain.

HALIFAX, April 12 — The North Carolina Provincial Congress this day passed the Halifax Resolves, the first official action by any of the Thirteen Colonies calling for independence from Great Britain.

The resolves, adopted unanimously, instruct the colony's delegates to the Continental Congress to join with other colonies in declaring independence. Joseph Hewes, a delegate from Edenton, will carry the resolves to Philadelphia, where the Congress is expected to take them up in May.

The fourth Provincial Congress, sitting in this town since April 4, acted after weeks of debate. Reports reaching this office say the members were moved by the king's rejection of colonial petitions and the outbreak of hostilities.

North Carolina thus becomes the first colony to speak plainly for separation, a step that may embolden others.

• The fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress passed the Halifax Resolves on April 12, 1776.
• The Halifax Resolves were the first official endorsement of independence from Great Britain by one of the Thirteen Colonies.
• Joseph Hewes presented the Halifax Resolves to the Continental Congress on May 27, 1776.
• The fourth congress met in Halifax from April 4 to May 14, 1776, presided over by Samuel Johnston.